| From: "MaryBeth D. Smith" Subject: MED: Geriatric voice To: vocalist Organization: Dept. of Music, Southwest Texas State U. Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Hello Listers:
My aunt is 93 years old and still going strong. She has been dealing with severe arthritis, however, and walks with a walker. Recently she has been treated for some arthritis-related jaw problems which sounded much like TMJ to be, bur her doctor did not use that term. Her doctors also told her that she was experiencing some arthritis in the larynx, and that she may lose her voice permanently. Her voice has always been very low-pitched (she really sounds like a baritone now), but she told me she now has trouble projecting across the dining table to her friends.
She lives by herself in her own apartment, but talks on the phone a good bit and at shared meals in her building. Could she be experiencing some bowing of the vocal folds from lack of use? Is the pitch of her voice working against her? I suggested she experiment with trying to hum easily and feel resonance sensations which could then carry over into speech, but am not sure that this will be possible for her.
Any suggestions, illumination, explanations will be most welcomed!
MaryBeth D. Smith Coordinator of Voice/Opera Southwest Texas State University
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